Centrifrugation vial and cluster tray

ABSTRACT

A plurality of centrifugation vials having a common base form a cluster tray suitably shaped for receipt by a standard multiwell or cluster tray carrier for a centrifuge. The tray base is segmented into individual vial bases to facilitate separation of a given vial from the cluster tray if desired. The bottom surface of each vial directly under the vial&#39;s interior chamber is recessed from the bottom supporting surface of the cluster tray to avoid scuffing or scratching. A skirted snap-plug cap is also provided for improved sealing means and to decrease the risk of contamination upon opening and closing of the vial. The vials and cluster trays thereof are preferably formed from transparent polymeric materials which can support anchored cell growth.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S.application Ser. No. 150,630 filed Feb. 1, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No.4,829,006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to diagnostic and laboratoryware adapted for centrifugation. More specifically, the inventionpertains to centrifugation vials and integrated yet severable arraysthereof.

Culture vials amenable to centrifugation, such as conventional culturetubes, free-standing shell vials and cluster trays of vials, havegenerally tube-shaped chambers wherein specimens can be placed or cellscultured. Some vial cluster trays feature independent arrangements orremovable strips of vials to permit the use or processing of less thanthe whole tray of vials. Conventional vials and cluster trays are mostoften constructed of glass or transparent plastic materials such aspolystyrene to enable viewing of the vial contents. Plug or snap-typeclosures constructed of translucent or opaque materials are also oftenprovided with the vials to seal their contents from the environment.

Conventional individual vials are, however, disadvantageous in that thevial chambers are generally of a depth non-amenable to facile userhandling or treatment of the vial contents. The construction offree-standing vials and cluster trays with removable vials is also suchthat the bottom surfaces of the vials contact the surface upon whichthey rest, leading to scratching or scuffing of the bottom surfaces andimpeding examination of the contents. Additionally, the materials ofwhich vials and trays are constructed often will not support anchoredcell culture, at least not without pretreatment of the vial surface. Inaddition, the plug or snap closures generally provided with conventionalvials often splatter the vial contents upon removal of the closure fromthe vial thus increasing the risk of contamination. Skirted caps as analternative often fail to provide adequate closure of the vial chamber.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide vials or cluster trays thereofamenable to centrifugation having chambers of a depth facilitatinghandling and treatment of the contents. It would also be desirable forthe trays of vials to have convenient means for detaching or removingany number of individual vials from the tray. It would further bedesirable to provide free-standing vials and trays with a constructionpreventing scratching or scuffing of the vial bottoms. It would also bedesirable to provide vials and trays constructed of materials thatsupport cell anchorage and whose vial bottoms can be easily detached sothat cells cultured thereon can be directly viewed or treated. Moreover,it would be desirable to provide an improved closure for centrifugationvials and trays with adequate sealing capability but which minimize therisk of splatter and contamination upon removal from the vial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a centrifugation vial and a cluster trayarrangement thereof. The cluster tray is designed so that individualfree-standing vials can be easily severed or separated from the trayprior to or after specimens or reagents have been placed in the vial.Hence, the vials of the present invention may be used individually or astrays of severable or separated vials.

The interior chamber of an individual vial of the present invention isdefined by a generally cylindrical side wall and a bottom wall and is ofa depth which facilitates the handling or treatment of the vialcontents. The bottom is raised from the surface supporting the vial toavoid scuffing or scratching so that the contents of the vial may bemicroscopically or directly examined without view-disturbing marks. Inone embodiment, the vial bottom is constructed of a sufficient thinnessto enable it to easily cut away from the remainder of the vial body forstaining or microscopic viewing. The vial is preferably also constructedof transparent material which will support anchored cell growth so thatthe vial can be used for the culture of anchorage-dependent cells if sodesired.

The vial of the present invention further includes an improved skirtedlocking cap which decreases the likelihood of contamination of eitherthe handler or the vial contents. The construction of the improved capfor the vial of the invention also permits shipping of the vial and anycontents therein with a decreased risk of spillage. Additionally, thecluster tray of the invention is provided with a tray cover which helpsdecrease cross-contamination between vials and has stacking means.

Another feature of the present invention is that the cluster tray ofvials of the invention may be formed in an arrangement to fit standardtray carriers for centrifuges currently in use. With appropriateadapters, individual vials separated form the tray can also becentrifuged.

These and other features of the invention will become apparent from areading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiments takenin conjunction with the drawings described below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cluster trayof vials arranged in accordance with the principles of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2--2 of the clustertray of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of acluster tray of vials arranged in accordance with the principles of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of the clustertray of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view partially in section of a preferredembodiment of the tray cover of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of an alternative preferred embodiment of acluster tray of the present invention having removable vials.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6--6 of the clustertray of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of aremovable vial and cap for use with the cluster tray base of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of another alternative embodiment of aremovable vial and cap for use with the cluster tray base of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the cluster tray ofvials of the present invention is shown in perspective and indicatedgenerally by the numeral 100. As shown in FIG. 1, cluster tray 100comprises six similarly-formed vials 102, each integrally formed with acluster tray base 104. It should be appreciated, however, that althoughsix vials are depicted in this embodiment, tray 100 can be formed withany suitable number of vials.

As shown in FIG. 1, tray base 104 is segmented into vial base regions106 corresponding to each of the vials of the tray. Tray base 104 andeach vial base region 106 is bounded by a raised lip 108 which serves toreinforce the tray and function as a cutting guide between individualvials. Lip 108 between adjacent vial base regions is preferablyindented, perforated or scored, as at 110, to further facilitateseparation of individual vials from the remainder of the tray base. Inthis manner, any of the vials are easily severed for individual use fromthe remainder of the cluster tray.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a cross-section view of cluster tray 100, eachvial 102 of tray 100 is provided with a vial chamber 112. Vial chamber112 is defined by an inner vial wall 114 extending upwardly from andintegrally formed with a vial bottom wall 116. Inner vial wall 114extends upwardly to meet outer vial wall 118, their juncture forming anannular vial rim 120 surrounding vial chamber opening 122. Vial outerwall 118 extends downwardly and outwardly to form a vial shoulder 124.Vial shoulder 124 reinforces each vial unit, and, optionally, canprovide a cap skirt rest if a skirted cap is used to seal the vialchamber opening. Vial shoulder 124, in turn, extends outwardly and isintegrally formed with its corresponding vial base region 106 of traybase 104.

In the preferred embodiment set forth in FIGS. 1 and 2, outer wall 118slopes away from the vial top at an angle of approximately 3°, whileinner wall 114 slopes in a direction opposite to that of outer wall 118at an angle of approximately 7°. However, it should be appreciated thatthe angle and direction of slope of the walls or straight unsloped wallscan be employed within the broad scope of this invention. Additionally,the depth of vial chamber 112 is relatively shallow as opposed toconventional culture tubes and shell vials and holds approximately 1-2ml of liquid with adequate head space.

Referring again to FIG. 2, bottom wall 116 of vial chamber 112 is offsetfrom the bottom surface of tray base 104 in such a manner to avoidscuffing or scratching of the exterior surface of bottom wall 116whether the vial is attached to tray base 104 or is severed andfree-standing. This feature enables viewing of vial contents supportedon the interior surface of bottom wall 116 without view-obstructingscratches or scuff marks.

Bottom wall 116 of vial 102 is preferably constructed of sufficientthinness to enable relatively easy removal under mechanical force of thebottom section of the chamber for treatment, viewing or any otherdesired processing of a specimen thereon. Vial bottom wall 116 isoptionally provided with a circumferential groove, as at 126, or otherseparating means such as perforations or indentations, to facilitatedetachment of the vial bottom wall from the rest of the vial is sodesired. Detachable vial bottom walls can thus take the place ofcoverslips which are currently used in culture vials. It should beappreciated, however, that coverslips may also be used in conjunctionwith the vial of the present invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a perspective view of another preferredembodiment of the cluster tray of the invention is shown and indicatedgenerally by the numeral 200. Cluster tray 200 generally comprises sixsimilarly-shaped vials 202, each integrally formed with a tray base 204.Tray base 204 is segmented into physically discrete vial base regions206 each of which is joined to the vial base region adjacent thereto bya connector 208. It should be appreciated that although segmentation oftray base 204 in FIG. 3 is accomplished by physical separation,segmenting can also be achieved by a variety of alternative methods,i.e. perforation, scoring, or indentation.

As shown in FIG. 3, each vial 202 of tray 200 is also provided with apair of opposing tabs 210 integrally formed with and projecting upwardlyfrom the periphery of vial base region 206 to assist in the handling ofthe vial. Tray 200 further includes a nesting lip 212 integrally formedwith and extending downwardly from the outer periphery of tray base 204to facilitate the stacking of trays for shipping or storage.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a cross-section view of tray 200 of FIG. 3,each vial 202 of cluster tray 200 includes a vial chamber 214 defined bya vial side wall 216 integrally formed with and extending upwardly froma vial bottom wall 218. Vial bottom wall 218 is also preferably providedwith a circumferential groove, as at 220, or other separating means tofacilitate detachment of the vial bottom wall if so desired.

To prevent scuffing of the exterior surface of vial bottom wall 218,bottom wall 218 of each vial 202 is provided with offsetting meansgenerally comprising an antiscuff ring 222 to offset the vial's bottomsurface from the surface upon which it rests. However, althoughoffsetting means for vial 202 comprises an antiscuff ring, it should beappreciated that other suitable means for offsetting the vial bottomsurface from a supporting surface can be employed. For example, thebottom surface of the vial bottom wall can be offset from the bottomsurface of the tray base by decreasing the vial bottom Wall thicknessrelative to the tray base thickness or by simply elevating the positionof the vial bottom wall relative to the tray base as in cluster tray 100of FIG. 2.

Returning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the vial of the present invention isalso provided with a locking cap 300. As shown in these Figures, cap 300generally comprises a top portion 302 from which extends a sealing plugportion 304. As shown particularly in FIG. 4, an annular undersurface oftop portion 302 preferably forms a bearing surface engaging the vial rimsurrounding the opening of the vial chamber. The outer surface of plugportion 304 is shaped for close engagement with the inner wall of thevial chamber and preferably includes concentric ribs or 0 rings, as at306, to enhance engagement of cap 300 with the vial.

Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, cap 300 further comprises acircumferential cap skirt 308 extending from top portion 302 and spacedfrom sealing plug portion 304. As shown in FIG. 4, inner surface of thecap skirt preferably engages at least a portion of the outer surface ofthe vial wall. Cap skirt 308 reduces splatter when cap 300 is removedand affords improved protection of the user and vial contents whenopening and closing the vial chamber using the locking cap 300. Inaddition, the bottom edge of cap skirt 308 preferably extends past thebottom of sealing plug portion 304. Thus, upon placement of cap 300 on aplanar supporting surface, plug portion 304 will not contact thesupporting surface, thereby reducing the risk of contamination.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, cap skirt preferably includes a cap lip 310extending outwardly from its bottom edge to facilitate removal andreplacement of cap 300 and a circumferential stiffening ring 312 toimpart rigidity to the cap. Additionally, cap 300 is preferably providedwith a cap ring 314 on the outer surface of top portion 302 to preventmarring of the outer surface of cap top portion with view-disturbingmarks. When used in conjunction with vials having antiscuff rings 222 ontheir bottom surface, cap ring 314 and the antiscuff ring furtherprovide stacking means by the telescoping of the antiscuff ring over capring 314 when capped vials or trays thereof are stacked.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a tray cover for the cluster tray of thepresent invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral 400.Tray cover 400 is generally comprised of a substantially planar base 402and four cover walls 404. Tray cover 400 includes a plurality of vialrings 406 extending from its inner surface which generally correspond insize, number and position with the vials of the tray for which it isdesigned. Although tray cover 400 can be used in conjunction withindividual caps for the vials of a tray, tray cover 400 can also usedindependent of individual caps to permit gaseous exchange between thevial contents and environment if so desired. When in place, vial rings406 telescope over the vial rims of the vials of the tray to helpprevent cross-contamination between vial contents. When two or moretrays are used in conjunction with a cluster tray of the invention witha nesting lip, such as tray 200 with nesting lip 212 depicted in FIG. 3,tray cover 400 further includes a cover lip 408 extending upwardly fromits outer surface to facilitate stacking of a multiplicity of trays.When stacked, cover lip 408 of the tray cover 400 telescopes over thenesting lip of the tray above it.

Now referring to FIGS. 6-9, another alternative embodiment of thepresent invention is shown and indicated generally by the numeral 500.Cluster tray 500 comprises a plurality of vials 502 removably secured tocluster tray base 504. Vials 502 and base 504 can be thermoformed orinjection molded of suitable polymeric materials. Of course, it will beappreciated that the exact number of vials 502 is not critical and adifferent number of vials 502 may be employed as more suitable for aparticular use.

As shown in FIG. 6, tray base 504 has a plurality of tray base regions506 corresponding to each of the vials 502 of the tray. Each base region506 is adapted to receive and hold one vial 502 thereon in a manner toallow the later removal of vial 502 from tray base 504 by the user.While the tray base 504 of FIG. 6 is adapted to hold six vials 502, forpurposes of clarity, FIG. 6 shows tray base 504 with two vials 502 heldthereon, one of which is shown with cap 508 thereon and one of which isshown uncapped.

Tray base 504 has a plurality of base regions 506 each having apertures510 therethrough and retention means 512 for holding an associated vial502 thereon. In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 6-7, retentionmeans 512 comprises a plurality of lugs or tabs 514 which cooperate withthe associated vial 502 to snappingly and removably hold the vial inbase region 506.

Vial 502 is best shown in FIG. 7. Vial 502 has a vial chamber 516defined by vial bottom 518 and vial wall 520 extending upwardlytherefrom. Bottom wall 518 has flange 522 extending outwardly therefromwhich cooperates with tabs 514 to provide retention means 512 forholding vial 502 in place on tray base 504. Flange 522, preferably isoffset from the plane of bottom wall 518 as shown in FIG. 7 to protectbottom wall 518 from scuffing or scratching contact with a surface whenan individual vial 502 is placed thereon.

Vial 502 has removable cap 508 for hermetically sealing vial chamber516. Cap 502 has sealing lip 524 and cap skirt 526 and is press fit overthe open end of vial 502. Preferably, top walls 528 of caps 508 aretransparent and have annular rings 530 for nesting engagement with anaperture 510 of tray base 504.

Now referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, alternative preferred embodiments ofvials and caps for use with tray base 504 are illustrated. Vial 602shown in FIG. 8 is analogous to vial 502 except that vial 602 has anupturned flange 604 for easier manipulation of vial 602. The tab of theretention means of an associated tray can be suitably sized to snap overflange 604 or, alternatively, the associated tab may simply clampinglyengage flange 604 to hold vial 602 in the associated base region of thetray. Vial 602 is illustrated in FIG. 8 with a cap 608 which isthreadably secured thereon, it, of course, being understood that vialscan be constructed for use with any selected cap. For example, vial wall520 of vial 502 can be threaded and used with a threaded cap.

Vial 702 shown in FIG. 9 is of a construction analogous to that of vial602 except that flange 704 has cut outs therein to allow improvedviewing of the contents of vial 702 and, optionally, snap-in retentionof vial 702 in an associated base region of a tray.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art from the abovedisclosure, cluster tray 500 provides a tray with removable vials andhas many advantageous features. The trays are stackable and vials can beviewed from above or below. Vial bottoms are protected from scratchingor scuffing. Vials are hermetically sealed and can be centrifugedindividually or on the tray. Vials can stand alone or be in position onthe tray and easily viewed.

Suitable materials for the construction of vials and trays of thepresent invention include moldable transparent polymeric materials, suchas polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinylchloride andpolyethylene terephthalate, which enable viewing of the contents of thevial without their removal from the vial. Preferred materials includemoldable transparent polymeric materials which can also support anchoredcell growth for the culture of cells for diagnostic testing, such aspolyvinyl chloride and polystyrene pretreated by corona discharge toenhance cell attachment. More preferred materials are polyethyleneterephthalate or polyethylene terephthalate glycol which exhibitadequate cell attachment properties without pretreatment of theirsurface.

Suitable materials for the construction of the vial and tray closures ofthe invention also include the aforementioned moldable polymericmaterials. Preferred moldable polymeric materials are those which can bemade transparent such as polystyrene or polyethylene terephthalate toenable viewing of the vial or tray contents without removal of theclosure.

The invention has been described with reference to a detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments. The details of the description arefor the sake of example only and are not intended as limitations uponthe scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integral array of vials comprising:a base trayhaving a plurality of regions, each adapted to receive a vial; aplurality of vials, each having a bottom wall and an upwardly extendingwall defining a vial chamber; and retention means for holding each saidvial in an associated region of said base tray, said retention meanscomprising a flange extending radially outwardly from said vial bottomwall and at least one lug on a said base region engaging said flange. 2.The array of claim 1, wherein said flange has an upwardly turned edge.3. The array of claim 2, wherein said upwardly turned edge has cut-outareas.
 4. The array of claim 1, wherein each said flange has a lowersurface for supporting said vial, said lower surface being generally ona single plane, and wherein the outer surface of said bottom wall ofeach said vial is offset upwardly from the plane of said lower surfaceof said flange to be thereby spaced from any substantially flat surfaceon which said vial is placed.
 5. The array of claim 1, wherein each saidvial is comprised of a transparent polymeric material.
 6. The array ofclaim 5, wherein said transparent polymeric material is polyethyleneterephthalate.
 7. The array of claim 5 wherein each said region of saidbase tray has an aperture therethrough generally in visual alignmentwith a bottom wall of one of said vials.
 8. The array of claim 1,wherein each said retention means comprises a plurality of lugs whichcooperate with a vial flange to snappingly and removably hold the vialin an associated base region.
 9. The array of claim 1, wherein each saidvial has cap means for sealing said vial chamber.
 10. The array of claim9 wherein said cap means is comprised of a transparent polymericmaterial.
 11. An integral array of vials comprising:a base tray having aplurality of regions, each adapted to receive a vial and each of saidregions having an aperture therethrough; a plurality of vials, eachhaving a bottom wall and an upwardly extending wall defining a vialchamber, each said vial being comprised of a transparent polymericmaterial and having an annular flange extending radially outwardly fromsaid bottom wall; and retention means for selectively removably holdingeach said vial in an associated region in said base tray, said retentionmeans comprising a plurality of lugs which snappingly engage saidflange.
 12. The array of claim 11, wherein said flange has an upwardlyturned edge.
 13. The array of claim 12, wherein said upwardly turnededge has cut-out areas.
 14. The array of claim 11, wherein each saidflange has a lower surface for supporting said vial, said lower surfacebeing generally on a single plane, and wherein the outer surface of saidbottom wall of each said vial is offset upwardly from the plane of saidlower surface of said flange to be thereby spaced from any substantiallyflat surface on which said vial is placed.
 15. The array of claim 14,wherein said transparent polymeric material is polyethyleneterephthalate.
 16. The array of claim 15, wherein each said vial has capmeans for sealing said vial chamber.
 17. The array of claim 16 whereinsaid cap means is comprised of a transparent polymeric material.